The History of Recycling During Student Move-Out

As the school year ends students clean out their residence hall rooms and find they have more stuff than they are able to take home. Rather than throw these items in the trash a special donation collection program was implemented.

The program was a cooperative effort of University Housing Facilities and Waste Management Services and was put in place in time for student move-out in April 1991. Students were instructed to place unwanted non-perishable food and clothing into separately marked collection bins. A special collection of low-grade paper course packs and notebooks was also established. The following year the donation collection program expanded to include household and toiletry items. Special "Take It or Leave It" areas outside of the residence halls were marked off for the placement of furniture, carpets, and loft wood to allow the local community to reuse these materials. The donation collection program successfully reduced the volumes of waste delivered to a landfill while benefiting local human services agencies. In May 1994 the Student Move-out program received recognition from the Michigan Recycling Coalition in the form of the 1993 Recycler of The Year Award in the Outstanding Special Events category. Presently non-perishable food, clothing, bedding, household items, and toiletries are accepted for donation.

To date, the Move Out Donation Program has collected 138 tons of donations.

1993-2009

Wondering what to do with cardboard and polystyrene (foam) at the beginning of the school year? Be sure to check out the Student Move-In page.